Tristan Wirfs To Serve As Honorary Captain

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa offensive lineman and NFL All-Pro Tristan Wirfs will serve as the honorary captain Saturday when the 15th-ranked Hawkeyes host Purdue under the lights at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) and the game will be televised nationally on NBC.

 As a junior in 2019, Wirfs was recognized as a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, and a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and the American Football Coaches Association. He was also named the Big Ten’s Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from league coaches and media, and was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection by the AP.

Wirfs started 32 games over three seasons with the Hawkeyes (2017–19), with 29 starts at right tackle and three at left tackle. He was one of six semifinalists for the 2019 Outland Trophy, which honors the nation's top interior lineman. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in 2018, and in 2017, became the first true freshman to start at tackle in the Kirk Ferentz era.

Since being drafted 13th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, Wirfs has established himself as one of the NFL's elite offensive tackles. A starter on the Super Bowl LV championship team, Wirfs has earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections (2021–25). He is a two-time first-team All-Pro (2021, 2024) and a 2022 second-team selection, making NFL history as the first player to be named first-team All-Pro at both right and left tackle. Wirfs is in his seventh season with the Buccaneers.

Wirfs will accompany the Iowa captains to midfield for Saturday’s pregame coin toss and will be with the team in the locker room before and after the game.